New eco-friendly care home to open in South Marston prioritising sustainability
Coate Water Care leads green initiatives with renewable technologies
A new environmentally conscious care home is set to open in South Marston next year, bringing energy efficiency and sustainability to the forefront of its design.
The facility, developed by Coate Water Care, aims to integrate renewable energy technologies to minimise its carbon footprint and operational costs.
Coate Water Care has converted an office building at 9 Lancaster Mews, South Marston Industrial Estate, into a state-of-the-art care home with a capacity for 60 residents.
During a recent visit by Councillor Emma Bushell, Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council and Ambassador for the Greener Swindon mission, Jamie Smith, Director at Coate Water Care, highlighted the inclusion of solar panels and a ground source heat pump system in the care home’s design.
These green technologies will significantly reduce day-to-day carbon emissions by meeting most of the care home’s energy needs.
Water heating is known to account for up to 30 per cent of daily energy use in care homes, making it a considerable factor in carbon emissions.
In addition to energy-efficient systems, the care home will incorporate grey water reuse and rainwater harvesting to optimise water usage and improve environmental performance.
Such features align with the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) framework, which has recently emphasised sustainability alongside its core focus on care quality.
Councillor Bushell praised Coate Water Care for its commitment to sustainability.
She said: "Climate change requires all of us - individuals and businesses - to think differently and put sustainability at the heart of our decisions.
"It is impressive to see Coate Water Care leading by example. By prioritising energy efficiency from the outset, the company is going the extra mile to ensure this new care home operates with a minimal carbon footprint."
Bushell also noted the project’s potential to lower dependency on grid-supplied power, thereby reducing operational costs.
Coate Water Care’s Director, Jamie Smith, commented on the company's dedication to reducing environmental impacts over the past decade.
He said: "Our ongoing sustainability programme is focused on reducing our carbon footprint and achieving our sustainability goals.
"This new flagship care home offers us the opportunity to go one step further. From its inception, our goal has been to achieve as close to net zero as possible, while still delivering quality care and supporting the local community."
The new care home’s eco-friendly design promises to set a benchmark for sustainable development within the care sector.